Asunción’s General Barrio Obrero Hospital has acquired its first advanced life support ambulance. This significant addition aims to improve emergency medical services for the Barrio Obrero community in Paraguay’s capital. For over three decades, the hospital has operated without a dedicated ambulance, relying on borrowed vehicles and temporary arrangements to transport patients, often at the expense of timely and specialised care.
The arrival of this ambulance is set to transform emergency response and patient transfer capabilities, particularly for cases requiring medium and high-complexity care or specialised medical consultations.
Life support ambulance around the clock
Hospital director Adán Godoy described the new vehicle, funded with support from Itaipú Binacional, as “a tool that enables us to respond to our patients with dignity, speed, and safety.”
He noted that many patients have previously endured long waits for outsourced transport, sometimes lasting hours, or even days. “This ambulance represents a new beginning for us,” Godoy added, as the hospital embarks on a comprehensive operational reorganisation to ensure the ambulance is available around the clock, staffed by trained medical and support personnel.
“Reaching Patients Promptly, Saving Lives”
The benefits of the new life support ambulance extend beyond Barrio Obrero, with the local military hospital also set to gain from improved logistical support for patient transfers. Recently Paraguay boosted healthcare with the allocation of US$ 500 million.
Health Minister María Teresa Barán highlighted that this delivery is just the first step in a broader strategy to modernise Paraguay’s health infrastructure. “Renewing our ambulance fleet will benefit all regions. These vehicles enable us to reach patients promptly, and save lives,” she stated, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening the national healthcare network.
Focus on modern infrastructure, and equipment
This development forms part of a wider initiative led by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, to enhance healthcare provision across Paraguay, with a focus on modern infrastructure and equipment. The arrival of the advanced life support ambulance heralds a new chapter for the Hospital General de Barrio Obrero, bringing better care to the patients who need it most.
